Europe Direct

Lord Harrison: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have rejected the proposed €840,000 annual budget provided by the European Commission to establish 40 Europe Direct centres in the United Kingdom, whose purpose is to provide information to businesses and charities on European Union legislation and on the availability of European Union grants; and, if so, what are the reasons for such rejection.

Lord Triesman: The Government have asked the European Commission to postpone the opening of the network of Europe Direct centres pending discussions with the Commission about their purpose and development.

EU Constitutional Treaty

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will consider proposing a series of radio and television broadcasts to reply to public queries on the proposed European Union Constitutional Treaty.

Lord Triesman: No final decisions have yet been made on communication activities on the EU Constitutional Treaty for financial year 2005–06.

EU: Market Services

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What decisions they will make about the future of the Bolkestein directive for market services liberalisation in the European Union.

Lord Triesman: Negotiations on the draft Directive on Services in the Internal Market (often associated with former European Commissioner Frits Bolkestein) are still at an early stage. The UK remains a strong supporter of the directive. We will be working with the Commission, the European Parliament and our EU partners to build on the progress made by the Luxembourg presidency.

G8: UK Presidency

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 7 March (WA 55), whether they are now in a position to publish a full breakdown of the costs of security for the United Kingdom's presidency of the G8, including those for the operation at the Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire, in July.

Lord Triesman: The provision of security at events for the United Kingdom's G8 presidency is the responsibility of the police force in whose area the event takes place. The final total cost of security for the G8 presidency, including that at Gleneagles, will not be known until all events have taken place and figures have been calculated by responsible police forces.

Working Time Directive

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to ensure that representatives of member states whose head of government is a member of the same political group as MEPs who support maintaining the United Kingdom opt-out from the working time limit will also support maintaining the opt-out in the European Union Council of Ministers; and
	What representations they are making to those representatives of member states whose head of government is a member of the same political group as the majority of MEPs who supported maintaining the United Kingdom's opt-out from the working time limit in the European Union Council of Ministers; and
	What progress they have made in persuading representatives of member states whose head of government is a member of the same political group as MEPs who were divided on the issue of preserving the United Kingdom's opt-out from the working time limit to support maintaining the opt-out in the European Union Council of Ministers; and
	Whether they anticipate that representatives of member states whose head of government is a member of the same political group as MEPs opposed to maintaining the United Kingdom opt-out from the working time limit will support maintaining the opt-out in the European Union Council of Ministers.

Lord Triesman: We have been in regular and constructive dialogue with all member states across Europe about the importance of flexible labour markets for job and growth creation. We will continue to work closely with them, and with the Commission and European Parliament, to secure agreement on a legislative proposal that retain individual workers' freedom to choose to work more than 48 hours and that mitigates the impact of the European Court of Justice's rulings on the Working Time Directive on the Government's ability to deliver high-quality health and other public services.

Licensing Act 2003

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have yet made a decision on collating ambulance call-out statistics, accident and emergency department information, and crimes of violence against the person reported to the police, as a means of assessing the effect of the Licensing Act 2003 on the incidence of crime and disorder in local areas; and from what date and in what areas these statistics will be collected.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: A number of measures will be drawn upon to assess the impact of the Licensing Act on levels of crime and disorder in England and Wales. These include the use of national surveys including (but not limited to) data on alcohol-related crime from the British Crime Survey. These national measures will be supplemented by local area case studies in five police force areas in England. It is intended to supplement this exercise in the five areas with information from ambulance call-out statistics and accident and emergency departments, and we are currently engaged in discussion with the Department of Health on the feasibility of this issue. The Home Office is leading on this work, in consultation with other government departments including the Department of Health and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Convention on Action against Human Trafficking

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will sign the Council of Europe convention on action against trafficking in human beings; and, if not, what specific articles of the convention they object to.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The UK has not yet taken the decision on whether or not to sign the Council of Europe convention on action against human trafficking. There are certain provisions in the convention which present concerns for the UK and which remain under active consideration. We want to resolve these issues before taking a decision on signature. We support fully all of the aims of the convention and we too want to see widespread action to tackle this abhorrent trade at source, to protect and support the victims and bring those responsible to justice.

National Firearms Licensing Management System

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For which police forces the network audit of the central register of firearms required by Section 39 of the Firearms (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1997 has been completed; and whether they will list those police forces which will implement the National Firearms Licensing Management System by the end of July 2005.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: An initial audit of Lancashire Constabulary and West Midlands Constabulary took place at the end of 2004. In addition Hendon Data Centre was also audited. A report was received in February 2005. No distinct pattern of issues was identified and it was recommended that a full audit of all forces be undertaken to review force requirements to implement NFLMS and other applications of its type. The scope of work for this has been defined by PITO and it is in the process of identifying a suitable supplier. A successful "live" pilot at the beginning of July by two pilot forces, Lancashire Constabulary and the Metropolitan Police Service, should see these two forces implement NFLMS by the end of July

National Firearms Licensing Management System

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they can now estimate the total cost of putting the National Firearms Licensing Management System into full national operation.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The total cost of the project to date is in the region of £5.4 million.

Iraq: Intelligence Personnel

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, between 17 March 2003 and 28 June 2004, United Kingdom intelligence personnel in Iraq were escorted or protected by Armed Forces personnel or by civilian contractors.

Lord Drayson: The Ministry of Defence does not employ private security contractors in Iraq. United Kingdom civilian intelligence personnel would routinely have been escorted and protected by military personnel, although in some circumstances these may have been drawn from the armed forces of coalition partners.

Joint Casualty Receiving Ship

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What provision was made in the 1998 Strategic Defence Review for a joint casualty receiving ship; and when such a facility was expected to come into service.

Lord Drayson: The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) of 1998 announced the intention to acquire an additional primary casualty receiving ship, later renamed the joint casualty treatment ship (JCTS), as part of plans to strengthen the medical support that could be provided for substantial combat operations overseas. No decisions on the timescales for providing this capability were made at the time of the SDR.

Armed Forces Bill

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Armed Forces Bill to be introduced this Session will make provision for employees, other than sponsored reservists of civilian contractors deployed to areas of military conflict; and, if so, whether they will publish the relevant draft clauses in time to allow for consultation before the publication of the Bill.

Lord Drayson: The Armed Forces Bill will make provision for employees of civilian contractors deployed to areas of military conflict in support of the Armed Forces. My department is at present working on provisions for the Bill that will modernise and clarify the existing provisions. Though we do not expect to be able to publish the relevant clauses in draft before the Bill is introduced, we do intend to continue the process of engagement with those who have an interest in the Bill, including noble Lords. I shall write to the noble Lord about this shortly.

Schools: Failing Schools in London

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish the names of the 55 London schools identified in the Ofsted report of 16 May as failing; and whether any of these schools are either specialist sports colleges or sports academies.

Lord Adonis: The Ofsted report of 16 May identifies 55 London schools as "failing", these figures refer to the number of schools requiring special measures in August 2004. None of these schools were specialist sports colleges or sports academies.
	Despite the raising of the bar on standards, the number of London schools which can be classified as "failing" has since fallen sharply, from 55 to 39. The table below lists the schools identified in the Ofsted report; schools highlighted have since been removed from special measures.
	Standards in London schools have improved rapidly since 1997 with GCSE results in London overtaking the national average for the first time in history in 2004. In 1997, 36 of the 402 mainstream maintained schools with results published in the performance tables had 70 per cent or more pupils achieving five A* to C, with 94 having less than 25 per cent achieving this standard. In 2004 of the 403 published schools 92 had 70 per cent or more pupils achieving five A* to C, with 17 having less than 25 per cent achieving this standard.
	
		
			 LEA School Phase 
			 Barking and Dagenham The Warren Comprehensive School Secondary 
			 Barnet Bishop Douglass School Finchley Secondary 
			 Barnet Broadfields Junior School Primary 
			 Barnet Christ Church C of E Secondary School Secondary 
			 Barnet Clitterhouse Junior School Primary 
			 Barnet Hendon School Secondary 
			 Barnet Hollickwood Primary School Primary 
			 Barnet St Mary's C of E High School Secondary 
			 Barnet Underhill Junior School Primary 
			 Brent John Keble C of E Primary School Primary 
			 Brent St Andrew and St Francis C of E Primary School Primary 
			 Bromley Kingswood Centre Pupil Referral Unit 
			 Bromley Midfield Primary School Primary 
			 Camden St Mary and St Pancras Church of England Primary School Primary 
			 Croydon Stanley Technical High School for Boys Secondary 
			 Croydon Tollgate Primary School Primary 
			 Croydon Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School Primary 
			 Enfield Chesterfield Infant School Primary 
			 Enfield Enfield Secondary Tuition Centre Pupil Referral Unit 
			 Enfield Latymer All Saints C of E Primary School Primary 
			 Enfield St John's C of E Primary School Primary 
			 Greenwich Blackheath Bluecoat Church of England Secondary School Secondary 
			 Greenwich Waterside School Special 
			 Hackney Amherst Primary School Primary 
			 Hackney Craven Park School Primary 
			 Hackney Mandeville Primary School Primary 
			 Hackney Sebright School Primary 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham Burlington Danes C of E School Secondary 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham Hurlingham and Chelsea Secondary School Secondary 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham Sulivan Primary School Primary 
			 Haringey Downhills Primary School Primary 
			 Haringey St Mary's C of E Infant School Primary 
			 Harrow Little Stanmore Nursery, First and Middle School Primary 
			 Havering King's Wood School Secondary 
			 Hillingdon Abbotsfield School Secondary 
			 Hillingdon Guru Nanak Sikh Primary School Primary 
			 Islington St Aloysius RC College Secondary 
			 Lambeth Norwood Secondary Centre Pupil Referral Unit 
			 Lambeth The Michael Tippett School Special 
			 Lambeth Vauxhall Primary School Primary 
			 Lewisham St Joseph's Academy Secondary 
			 Merton Merton Abbey Primary School Primary 
			 Merton Mitcham Vale High School Secondary 
			 Merton St Teresa's Catholic Primary School Primary 
			 Newham Rokeby School Secondary 
			 Redbridge Hainault Forest High School Secondary 
			 Redbridge Redbridge Junior School Primary 
			 Richmond Upon Thames Grey Court School Secondary 
			 Southwark Cobourg Primary School Primary 
			 Southwark Galleywall Primary School Primary 
			 Southwark Peckham Rye Primary School Primary 
			 Southwark Robert Browning Primary School Primary 
			 Southwark St George's Cathedral RC Primary School Primary 
			 Southwark St Paul's Church of England Primary School Primary 
			 Wandsworth Battersea Technology College Secondary

Schools: Sport

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their best estimate of the percentage of girls who take part in after-school sport compared to the percentage of boys.

Lord Adonis: The information required to answer this Question is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, this information will be collected centrally from 2006.

Schools: Sport

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the building of new school sports facilities is included in the Building Schools for the Future programme.

Lord Adonis: This Government give great priority to the physical and recreational needs of our children as a fundamental part of their education and development. Building and renewing secondary school sports facilities are included in the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.
	Central government capital funding for school buildings in 2005–06 is over £5.1 billion, including over £2 billion allocated to the first wave of BSF. BSF aims to transform secondary schools so that they are fit for the teaching and learning needs of the 21st century, including for sports and physical education. Decisions on investment will be made locally by the authorities which have been allocated funding as they develop their projects, in line with their priorities, which will reflect local need and government policies. In time, all secondary schools in England will benefit from BSF.
	The balance of capital funding, about £3 billion in 2005–06, is mainly allocated to schools and authorities by formula, so that they can make investment decisions locally, in line with the priorities of their asset management plan. Again, these can include the improvement of school sports facilities, and we give guidance on good sports facilities for schools. We provide additional capital grant for schools which wish to develop sport as a specialism, where there is local matched funding. From 2008–09, we are providing additional funding for primary schools, to support their improvement, which will include sports facilities.

Schools: Sport

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many schools that were in receipt of funding from the Big Lottery Fund's £750 million programme to build new school sports facilities are to receive funding as part of the Building Schools for the Future programme.

Lord Adonis: Most secondary schools in England will receive capital investment through the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. Within the 39 local authorities in waves one to three of BSF, approximately 525 primary and secondary schools have had funding committed from the Big Lottery Fund for physical education and sports facilities. Not all of these schools will receive BSF funding as the programme includes only secondary schools.
	For BSF wave two authorities, where business cases have been developed to a more advanced stage and specific schools identified, 17 secondary schools in the programme are also in receipt of Big Lottery Funding.

Schools: Sport

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many competition managers will be employed as part of the School Sport Partnership scheme; and
	How the role of a competition manager will differ from that of a school sport co-ordinator; and
	What will be the average annual salary for a competition manager.

Lord Adonis: To reinvigorate competitive school sport further, the Prime Minister announced, on 14 December 2004, that new competition managers would be added to school sport partnerships. From September 2005 there will be 17 in place, 45 by September 2006 and 90 by September 2007. Subject to the next Spending Review in 2006 the eventual ambition is to have one manager per school sport partnership by 2010.
	The overall role of the competition managers will be to manage and co-ordinate the planning and implementation of the national schools competition framework through a programme of inter-school competition within and across school sport partnerships. They will also reach out to local, regional and national governing body competitions. Each competition manager will be an integral part of their school sport partnership and be managed by their partnership development manager. In contrast, the role of the school sport co-ordinator is, principally, to help their school and their primary school partners to ensure that their pupils spend a minimum of two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport. As part of this process, they provide enhanced out of school hours sporting opportunities, increase participation in community sport and develop and strengthen links—particularly between key stages 2 and 3.
	For the first wave of competition managers partnerships will receive a grant of £37,500 which will cover the salary of their competition manager and also provide a modest budget. The posts are designed to be three-year appointments.

Schools: Sport

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether teachers will be responsible for providing the additional two to three hours of sport for pupils outside school hours in order to achieve the government target of providing such an entitlement to all pupils by 2012; and
	What extra resources will be given to schools to help them achieve the target of providing all pupils with an extra two to three hours of sport outside school hours.

Lord Adonis: The Government's ambition is to offer all children, by 2010, at least four hours of sport every week, which will comprise at least two hours of high quality PE and sport at school and, in addition, the opportunity for at least a further two to three hours beyond the school day. This will be delivered by a range of school, community and club providers.
	The national PE, school sport and club links strategy—which went live in April 2003—is investing £978 million between 2003–04 and 2007–08 to deliver the ambitious school sports public service agreement target—to ensure 75 per cent of school children by 2006, and 85 per cent by 2008, spend at least two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport—and move towards the 2010 ambition. In addition, £686 million lottery funding is enhancing school sports facilities. In total, this means that over £1.5 billion is being invested in school sport in the five years up to 2008. Funding arrangements beyond 2007–08 will be announced following the 2006 Spending Review.

Schools: Sport

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many pupils with disabilities and special educational needs in mainstream schools currently receive two hours of physical education and school sport; and
	How many pupils with disabilities and special educational needs in special schools currently receive two hours of physical education and school sport.

Lord Adonis: The 2003–04 PE, school sport and club links survey did not collect these data and they could be provided only at disproportionate cost. This information will be collected from 2006.

Schools: Sport

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many primary and secondary school teachers are qualified to teach physical education to pupils with disabilities and special educational needs.

Lord Adonis: To be awarded qualified teacher status, all trainee teachers must: demonstrate that they understand their responsibilities under the special educational needs (SEN) code of practice; know how to seek advice from specialists on less common types of SEN; and be able to differentiate their teaching to meet the individual needs of pupils, including those with SEN. These requirements are further reinforced during induction.
	Once qualified, teachers can extend their knowledge and understanding as part of their on going in-service continuing professional development. This can range from awareness raising to securing specific qualifications.
	The department has produced a training CD-ROM Success for All: an Inclusive Approach to PE and Sport. This resource includes a series of filmed case studies and supporting material designed to help teachers in primary, secondary and special schools to include disabled pupils in all areas of the PE curriculum.
	Teachers also operate within a national curriculum framework that includes a statutory statement on providing effective learning opportunities for all pupils.

Overseas Students

Lord Chan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many foreign students were studying in colleges of higher education and universities in the United Kingdom in 2003–04; and what subjects they studied.

Lord Adonis: The latest figures are shown in the table.
	
		Students from overseas( 1 ) at UK higher education institutions 2003–04
		
			  Postgraduate Undergraduate 
			 Medicine and dentistry 3,310 3,175 
			 Subjects allied to medicine 4,560 10,255 
			 Biological sciences 5,220 5,920 
			 Veterinary science 170 290 
			 Agriculture and related subjects 1,025 705 
			 Physical sciences 4,685 2,895 
			 Mathematical sciences 1,835 2,465 
			 Computer science 9,375 10,750 
			 Engineering and technology 15,830 17,020 
			 Architecture, building and planning 3,510 3,630 
			 Social studies 12,260 10,880 
			 Law 6,560 6,250 
			 Business and administrative studies 32,985 30,960 
			 Mass communications and documentation 2,555 2,705 
			 Languages 5,495 11,565  
			 Historical and philosophical studies 3,625 2,955 
			 Creative arts and design 4,580 10,095 
			 Education 8,510 2,675 
			 Combined courses 90 3,325 
			 Total 126,170 138,500 
		
	
	Source:
	Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
	Figures have been rounded to the nearest five.
	1Covers students from the EU and other overseas countries.

Overseas Students

Lord Chan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the 10 most popular courses attended by undergraduate and postgraduate students from:
	(a) China;
	(b) Hong Kong;
	(c) Taiwan;
	(d) Singapore;
	(f) Thailand; and
	(g) Indonesia in 2003–04.

Lord Adonis: The latest information, showing the complete list of subject groups studied by students from these countries, is shown in the table.
	
		Postgraduate and undergraduate students from overseas at UK higher education institutions 2003–04
		
			  Students from: 
			  China  Hong Kong  Taiwan 
			  PG UG PG UG PG UG 
			 Subject group:   
			 Medicine and dentistry 105 15 120 140 55 20 
			 Subjects allied to medicine 235 115 125 225 65 20 
			 Biological sciences 315 380 65 360 115 45 
			 Veterinary science – – 0 10 – 0 
			 Agriculture and related subjects 75 45 5 35 5 – 
			 Physical sciences 400 380 55 220 50 25 
			 Mathematical sciences 270 785 40 290 40 25 
			 Computer science 1,965 2,245 85 610 195 75 
			 Engineering and technology 2,815 1,735 185 825 210 80 
			 Architecture, building and planning 485 260 85 400 90 30 
			 Social studies 1,410 1,885 135 460 240 60 
			 Law 1,135 205 145 490 50 5 
			 Business and administrative studies 8,755 8,780 660 2,045 1,290 275 
			 Mass communications/documentation 520 315 40 90 120 20 
			 Languages 565 2,915 90 350 295 150 
			 Historical and philosophical studies 45 55 40 80 50 15 
			 Creative arts and design 470 495 100 540 280 240 
			 Education 705 140 485 265 335 10 
			 Combined courses 5 535 0 50 5 25 
			 Total 20,265 21,290 2,455 7,485 3,485 1,120 
		
	
	
		Postgraduate and undergraduate students from overseas at UK higher education institutions 2003–04 continued
		
			  Students from: 
			  Malaysia  Singapore  Thailand  Indonesia 
			  PG UG PG UG PG UG PG UG 
			 Subject group:   
			 Medicine and dentistry 130 845 50 260 55 15 5 10 
			 Subjects allied to medicine 105 280 30 80 40 50 5 5 
			 Biological sciences 135 120 35 125 50 30 15 20 
			 Veterinary science 5 5 – 10 5 0 0 – 
			 Agriculture and related subjects 20 10 5 5 20 – 10 – 
			 Physical sciences 100 55 30 60 85 25 15 10 
			 Mathematical sciences 60 130 15 45 20 20 5 10 
			 Computer science 320 590 40 85 105 45 45 30 
			 Engineering and technology 935 2,405 185 580 300 170 110 50 
			 Architecture, building and planning 180 395 30 50 65 15 25 5 
			 Social studies 140 240 85 285 200 75 50 25 
			 Law 255 540 65 355 100 20 20 10 
			 Business and administrative studies 610 1,290 305 210 905 155 190 115 
			 Mass communications/documentation 50 105 20 20 35 10 25 10 
			 Languages 75 185 25 100 60 80 5 20 
			 Historical and philosophical studies 30 30 25 50 10 20 5 5 
			 Creative arts and design 75 145 40 120 75 105 15 20 
			 Education 185 40 160 5 85 5 15 5 
			 Combined courses - 25 0 10 0 5 0 5 
			 Total 3,400 7,430 1,150 2,465 2,220 850 555 350 
		
	
	Source:
	Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Figures have been rounded to the nearest five; a dash (–) indicates that the number is greater than zero but less than three.

City Academies

Lord Smith of Leigh: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What the capital costs of the current city academies have been.

Lord Adonis: Capital expenditure by the department to the end of the 2004–05 financial year on the 17 open academies was £341 million.

Health Professions Council: Chiropody and Podiatry

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many applicants for "grandparenting" on to the Health Professions Council register for chiropody and podiatry have been asked to undertake top-up training in order to reach the required standards of proficiency; and how many such applicants have been admitted to the register following completion of a top-up training course.

Lord Warner: The Department of Health does not hold this information. The Health Professions Council is an independent statutory body responsible for the regulation of chiropody and podiatry, and can supply these data.

Four-wheel Drive Vehicles: Off-road Use

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What evidence they have about the illegal use of four-wheel drive vehicles off ordinary roads; and what plans they have to deal with this problem.

Lord Bach: Following the department's research project on the use of byways open to all traffic, published in January, we now intend to conduct a research project to ascertain the extent of the illegal use, by motorised vehicles, of other rights of way and land off-road. The project will be taken forward later this year.
	In addition, to fulfil a commitment made in The Government's Framework for Action (January 2005) on the use of mechanically propelled vehicles on rights of way, we shall be publishing a comprehensive enforcement guidance document this summer. The guidance will set out examples of enforcement best practice and will clarify the extensive powers already available to deal with the illegal use of vehicles on rights of way and off-road.

Channel Tunnel Rail Link

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether a travelator connection between Stratford International station and the present Stratford station was included in the authorised Channel Tunnel Rail Link scheme; and what commitment was given to Parliament that this would be built as part of the scheme.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The provision of a mechanical link such as a travelator between Stratford International and Stratford regional stations was a condition of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (Stratford Station and Subsidiary Works) Order 2001. Investigations and discussions continue on the most appropriate form of such a link.

Passenger Transport Executives

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect to publish their proposed guidance in relation to the role of passenger transport executives.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Government expect to publish the guidance later this month.

Cabinet Office: Policy Co-ordination

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the aims and objectives of the Cabinet Office include supporting Ministers collectively and providing efficient arrangements for collective decision making.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Yes. A key Cabinet Office objective is to achieve co-ordination of policy and operations across government. The work of the Cabinet Committee secretariats is crucial to achieving this objective. The secretariats support Ministers collectively and provide efficient arrangements for collective decision making.
	Further information about the work of the secretariats was published in the Cabinet Office Departmental Report 2004 (cm 6226) available at www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/about–the–cabinet–office/reports.asp and in the Library.